Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and in this article I have listed a few top things to do in Stockholm. The city is spread out over 14 islands and so water is an important natural element which gives the city it’s gorgeous outlook on the waterfronts and harbours. I visited the Scandanvian city during the winter months. It was freezing and you had to keep on walking to stay warm.

It’s a safe and well maintained city so I enjoyed exploring the city on foot. I was surprised with how green this city exactly is. When you walk around you see many parks, gardens, squares, lakes and canals. I can only imagine how it would be like in summer. For this reason alone I should go back!

Explore the old city: Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is the oldest part of Stockholm and located on a small island. The characteristic cobbled streets and colourful 17^th and 18^th century architecture is what makes this neighbourhood unique. The Royal Palace and the medieval Storkyrkan Cathedral are here. The place is filled with brasseries that serve you authentic Nordic cuisine. For a drink Gamla Stan offers a mixture of old-school pubs and classic chic cocktail bars. If you fancy a souvenir you can go nuts in one of the many souvenirs shops or go to one of the authentic handicrafts shops.  

Gamla Stan is where Stockholm was founded in 1252 and it’s a well preserved medieval centre. There are several churches and museums in Gamla Stan but the largest attraction is the Royal Palace. The Palace has over 600 rooms and houses several museums.

Kungsträdgården

This garden is located in the centre of Stockholm. Kungsträdgården is Swedish for King’s Garden as the park was referred to throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries. During the winter you can go ice-skating. In summer events and open-air concerts are organised in the park.  Around the park are many art galleries, café’s, restaurants and at the west side is the Royal Swedish Opera. It’s a popular spot to hang-out and a convenient meeting place in Stockholm. The southside of the park is connected with the Strömbron bridge that connects the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan.

Stockholm Public Library

The public library became famous when it was listed as one of the world’s most beautiful libraries by the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine. Open Instagram and you find many pictures taken of this library built with a architectural style called Swedish Grace.

National Museum

The National Museum is a fantastic art museum with a sculpture garden, paintings, art work and all kinds of objects, starting from the Middles Ages to the present day. It’s shows artwork of a few famous artists like Rubens, Frans Hals, Renoir and Rembrandt. Not only the exhibition is worth going for. The museum was reopened in 2018 after five years of renovations and modernisations. The interior design and architecture of the building is magnificent and inspired by the Italian renaissance style. The museum is located on the island of Blasieholmen in the centre of the city and admission is free.

Vasa Museet

The ship Vasa sank in 1628 in the harbour in Stockholm. After 300 years the ship was salvaged and preserved at the Vasa museum. The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island and shows the almost intact Vasa ship in the main hall. Other various exhibitions are related to the archaeological findings of the ship and daily life in the 17^th century in Stockholm and Sweden.

Stockholms Stadshus

Stockholm City Hall is located at Kungsholmen Island. It’s a iconic landmark and famous because of the Nobel Prize Banquet. The Nobel Banquet is an annual banquet held in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall. It’s open to public but only with a guided tour. The tower is open during the summer months from May until September.

Nordiska Museet

The Nordiska Museet is the Swedish museum of cultural history. Like the Vasa Museum, the Nordiska Museet is also located on Djurgården Island. The exhibition starts from the 16^th century to the present day. The museum was founded by Arthur Hazelius in the 19^th century. For the museum Hazelius bought or received donations like clothing, furniture, documents, photographs and toys from all over Sweden and other Nordic countries. The present building was finished in 1907 after 19 years of construction. The renaissance architecture style is influenced by Dutch and Danish elements.

Walk around the Djurgårdsbrunnsviken

When I visited Stockholm in January it was cold but one the days the sun was out. I visited Djurgården and decided to go for a walk around Djurgårdsbrunnsviken. Can you believe this lake is located in the city centre of Stockholm? It offers a great view of the surrounding green nature. It is a great place to go bird spotting or just enjoy the fresh Scandinavian air. Start your walk at the Nordiska Museet. Go east and cross the Folke Bernadottes Bridge. Head back west to Nobelparken. This is a 3km loop. Interested in 5km loop? Do not cross the Folke Bernadottes Bridge but keep on walking east and cross the Djurgårdenbrunnsbron (bridge). After this bridge make a left turn and walk back to Nobelparken and back into to the city.

Abba Museum

I didn’t visit the Abba Museum, not because I am not a fan of Abba, but decided to visit other museums in the city. I have been told by other travellers it’s definitely worth going. The Abba Museum is also located at Djurgården Island.

The museum is an interactive museum where you can virtually try on Abba’s costumes. You can sing, play and mix the original Abba music and even become the fifth member of the group. You can record your nightingale singing voice and listen to it later.

When you scan your ticket at the entrance you will be asked if you want to save your experiences. The recorded material is accessible via the Abba website on My Page and after submitting your ticket number. All your out-of-tune singing is saved for 15 days!

Visit Stockholm

Are you planning to visit Stockholm? Check the official Visit Stockholm website. This user friendly site gives you up-to-date information about everything that is going on in the city, from restaurants, museums to local events. I have used this site multiple times when I visited Stockholm.

In The World’s Jungle – Travel posts

You may also like other articles about European destinations. Check out the idyllic island of Texel in the Netherlands. Admire the photogallery of Stockholm and Barcelona or explore the Wieliczka Salt mines in Poland.

Interested in articles about European architecture? Read the monumental highlights in Antwerp or the monuments of the city of lights, Paris. I have written a Beginners guide to Architecture about the historicial European architectural styles, starting at Ancient Egypt until the Neoclassicism.

In The World’s Jungle – Personal Travel Guide

Interested to know more about In The World’s Jungle and the articles you can find here? Read more on the About page or get to know Adriana. I can help you planning your trip, find unique places to stay, set-up an itinerary and make other necessary arrangements. Feel free to contact me and let me know how I can help you. Check the Service page to learn more.